Military operational evaluations: credible data and decision making

Abstract

Decision making on military capability is informed by data collected in operational evaluations. Such exercises present difficulties since a military operational environment represents a complex, socio-technical system. Based on a framework for the collection of credible data, we use an Australian case study to identify the key challenges in the execution of military operational evaluations: the purpose for data collection, its situational setting, the method of collection and the use of appropriate data sources. To address those challenges, we put forward an approach that integrates three operational research tools by applying the problem structuring method while using perceptual positions in data collection through a facilitated mode of interaction between stakeholders. We illustrate the approach with examples of the use of the operational research tools in a military operational environment. Using established requirements of military operational evaluations, we also assess the approach in terms of its validity in supporting military decision-making.